**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Starred Question No. 1 of the Lok Sabha, concerning the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Ken-Betwa River Link Project. It details the project's status, mitigation measures, and actions taken to address environmental degradation from mining activities. The question was to be answered on December 1, 2025, and the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has provided a statement to be laid on the Table of the House.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Ken-Betwa River Link Project:**
* The Ken-Betwa Link Project is a National Project and the first inter-basin river-linking initiative.
* The project aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken basin to the water-deficit Betwa basin.
* Environmental Clearances (ECs) were granted based on EIA reports appraised by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)/State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) to Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase-I, Bina Complex Multipurpose Project, and Kotha Barrage major irrigation project.
* It will provide annual irrigation to 10.62 lakh ha area, 194 MCM drinking water to 62 Lakh people, and 103 MW Hydropower and 27 MW Solar power benefitting 10 districts in Madhya Pradesh and 4 districts in Uttar Pradesh.
* **Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Reports:**
* EIA reports detail impacts on local biodiversity, forest cover, and water resources.
* Impacts include: biodiversity within and around the Panna Tiger Reserve, riverine and riparian habitats, wildlife corridors, submergence of land, hydrological changes, downstream ecological flow, muck generation, and alterations to physical, abiotic, and biotic parameters.
* Mitigation measures have been recommended and are required for Environmental Clearance (EC).
* An expenditure for implementation of mitigation measures under the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase-I, Ken–Betwa Link Project Phase-II (Bina Complex Multipurpose Project), and Ken–Betwa Link Project Phase-II (Kotha Barrage Major Irrigation Project) has been kept as Rs. 5,073 Crores, Rs. 1735.05 Crores and Rs. 164.12 Crores respectively.
* **Mining Projects:**
* All mining projects require prior Environmental Clearance (EC) under the EIA Notification, 2006, as amended.
* The power to grant EC for minor mineral projects in Jhansi and Lalitpur districts lies with the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
* Stringent environmental safeguard conditions are stipulated for mining projects, including greenbelt development, haul road maintenance, water sprinklers, protection of resources, regulated blasting, acoustic enclosures, protection of species, and scientific handling of overburden.
* Project proponents must carry out plantation and obtain Forest Clearance if forest land is involved.
* Six-monthly compliance reports must be submitted.
* Mining leases are subject to Consent to Operate (CTO) by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
* Compliance is monitored by the Ministry and SPCB. Non-compliance can result in action, including show-cause notices and revocation of EC.
* Mining projects must implement Progressive and Final Mine Closure Plans approved by regulatory bodies, including ecological restoration measures.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of India / Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overseeing and managing the Ken-Betwa Link Project and environmental regulations related to it and mining activities.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the project's implementation, ensure compliance with environmental safeguards, and address any non-compliance issues.
**State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) (Jhansi and Lalitpur):**
* **Impact:** Authority on granting Environmental Clearance (EC) for minor mineral projects.
* **Action Required:** Oversee and ensure compliance with environmental safeguard conditions, as mining projects need to obtain Forest Clearance if forest land is involved.
**Ken-Betwa River Link Project Proponents:**
* **Impact:** Subject to environmental regulations and requirements for the project.
* **Action Required:** Follow mitigation measures, comply with environmental norms, and obtain necessary clearances.
**Mining Project Proponents:**
* **Impact:** Subject to environmental regulations and requirements for mining projects in Jhansi and Lalitpur districts.
* **Action Required:** Follow environmental safeguard conditions and obtain Forest Clearance, implement progressive and Final Mine Closure Plans, comply with mandatory reports, and other regulations.
**Citizens of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh:**
* **Impact:** Potentially benefit from increased irrigation, drinking water, and power generation, but also potentially affected by environmental changes.
* **Action Required:** No action is required by citizens.
**Residents of Jhansi and Lalitpur districts:**
* **Impact:** Potentially affected by mining activities and changes to the environment and local community.
* **Action Required:** No action is required by the citizens.
Key Entities Referenced
Ken-Betwa River Link Project: A river-linking project that is the first inter-basin river-linking initiative under India's National Perspective Plan, aiming to transfer water from the Ken basin to the Betwa basin.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006: A regulation mandating environmental clearance for projects, including the Ken-Betwa River Link Project, which is central to the environmental oversight process.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The central ministry responsible for granting environmental clearances and overseeing the implementation of environmental regulations for projects such as the Ken-Betwa River Link Project.
Panna Tiger Reserve: A protected area impacted by the Ken-Betwa River Link Project; environmental impact assessment addresses potential threats to its biodiversity and habitat.
The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974: Legislation regulating water pollution, used by State Pollution Control Boards to issue Consent to Operate for mining leases.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 1
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
Environmental Impact Assessment of Ken-Betwa River Link Project
*1. SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the present status of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report under the Ken–
Betwa River Link Project, including its observations regarding the impact on local
biodiversity, forest cover and water resources;
(b) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to mitigate, prevent or offset any
potential ecological damage arising therefrom;
(c) the details of the corrective and compensatory measures undertaken to address
environmental degradation caused by mining activities in the Jhansi and Lalitpur districts,
along with particulars of afforestation drives, soil and water conservation programmes,
rehabilitation of affected sites; and
(d) the details of the monitoring mechanisms established to ensure strict compliance with
environmental norms along with the expected time-frame for achieving effective
ecological restoration in the said districts?
ANSWER
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)
(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
***STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 1 FOR ANSWER ON 01.12.2025 RAISED BY SHRI
ANURAG SHARMA REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF
KEN-BETWA RIVER LINK PROJECT
(a) and (b) The Ken–Betwa Link Project, declared a National Project, is the first inter-basin
river-linking initiative under India’s National Perspective Plan, which has entered in the
implementation phase. It aims to transfer surplus water of Ken basin to water deficit Betwa
basin. Based upon the comprehensive appraisal of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)
reports by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)/State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC),
the Environmental Clearances (ECs) were accorded by the Ministry, under the provisions of
the EIA Notification, 2006, to Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase-I at Village Daudhan, Tehsil
Bijawar, District Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh on 25.08.2017 and Bina Complex
Multipurpose Project (32MW) at Village Chakarpur, Tehsil Sagar, District Sagar in Madhya
Pradesh on 22.02.2017. Further, EC was accorded by State Environment Impact Assessment
Authority (SEIAA), Madhya Pradesh to Kotha Barrage major irrigation project at Village
Kotha, Tehsil Kurwai, District Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh on 21.08.2020.
The project benefits include provision of annual irrigation facility to 10.62 lakh ha area,
194 MCM drinking water supply to a population of 62 Lakh and 103 MW Hydropower and 27
MW Solar power generation, benefitting 10 districts in Madhya Pradesh and 4 districts in Uttar
Pradesh.
The EIA reports, inter alia, deals with the impacts of the project on local biodiversity,
forest cover and water resources include, impacts on biodiversity within and around the Panna
Tiger Reserve, impact on riverine and riparian habitats, wildlife corridors, submergence of
forest and non-forest land, hydrological changes, downstream ecological flow requirements,
muck generation and excavation of construction material, alterations in physical, abiotic and
biotic parameters both in upstream and downstream direction of the proposed barrage etc.
Various mitigation measures have been recommended while granting Environmental
Clearance (EC) as well as approval under Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam,
1980 and Wildlife Clearance to the projects. The outlay for implementation of mitigationmeasures under the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for Ken–Betwa Link Project
Phase-I, Ken–Betwa Link Project Phase-II (Bina Complex Multipurpose Project) and Ken–
Betwa Link Project Phase-II (Kotha Barrage Major Irrigation Project) has been kept as Rs.
5,073 Crores, Rs. 1735.05 Crores and Rs. 164.12 Crores respectively. The components of EMP,
inter-alia, include expenditure related to Catchment area treatment plan (CAT) plan, reservoir
rim treatment plan, afforestation, erosion control by engineering/mechanical measures, muck
and silt management, command area management, habitat improvement in Panna Tiger
Reserve, conservation of endangered species, monitoring of microclimatic conditions for
habitat improvement, Fisheries conservation and development, surface and ground water
management, periodic soil health analysis, green belt development, pollution control measures
in air and water, energy conservation measures and environmental monitoring etc.
(c) and (d) All Mining projects require prior Environmental Clearance (EC) under the
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, as amended. The powers to grant
EC for minor mineral projects including River-Bed Sand/Morrum Mining and Khanda-
Boulder/Gitti-Ballast Mining projects in Jhansi and Lalitpur districts, are vested with State
Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
Stringent environmental safeguard conditions recommended by the domain area
experts to ensure environmental protection, ecological restoration and rehabilitation of affected
sites are stipulated for mining projects including mining projects in Jhansi and Lalitpur
districts. These conditions, inter-alia, include development of greenbelt in the mining leases
and its maintenance, construction and maintenance of haul roads, use of water sprinklers for
dust suppression, condition for protection of surface and groundwater resources, regulated
blasting whenever necessary, adoption of controlled-blasting techniques, installation of
acoustic enclosures for equipment, etc. The EC also stipulates conditions for protection of
scheduled species and ecological safeguards, scientific handling of overburden (OB) and waste
rock, including their placement in designated and stabilized dumps with proper terracing, slope
protection, grassing and vegetative cover etc. The project proponents are also required to carry
out plantation under the campaign "Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam" in the stipulated green belt. Projects
proponents are further required to obtain Forest Clearance if forest land is involved in any
mining project. Compensatory afforestation has to be done by the project proponent as a part
of Forest Clearance.Six-monthly compliance reports with respect to Environmental Clearance conditions has to be
mandatorily submitted by the project proponent. Further, mining leases are subject to Consent
to Operate (CTO) issued by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) under the Water
(Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981. The compliance of environmental safeguard conditions stipulated in the EC,
conditions of the CTO issued by SPCB are monitored by the concerned Regional Office of the
Ministry and SPCB through regular site inspection and surprise visit. In case of non-
compliance, appropriate action is taken including show-cause notice, revocation of EC as per
the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 against the project authorities.
The mining projects are required to implement Progressive and Final Mine Closure
Plans approved by the Indian Bureau of Mines/ State Directorate of Mineral and Geology, as
per Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988 and Mineral Concession Rules under
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (as amended), which prescribe
measures for ecological restoration by undertaking activities like backfilling, land reclamation,
re-grassing and restoration of mined-out area.
*****